You won't find moments in a box.
A New York City photoblog with writing. Or something like that.

Tuesday, January 31, 2006

Mike Gordon's Secrets of the Hotline

Mike Gordon is at it again. His latest message (mp3 download here) gives the secrets behind the former Phish bassist's hotline. The HL gets over 90 calls an hour! Mike claims this is a recent spike due some "unsubstantiated Phish rumors". Hmm. Also check out a previous message where Mike gives you some inspirational thoughts to get you through your day. Click on the Music Category on the right for older messages. category: music_

Sopranos filming today (with pics)

The Sopranos were filming today in Rockefeller Center. They shot at least two scenes; one right on the ice rink and one at the tip of the Channel Gardens in front of the rink. Both involved Joe Gannascoli aka Vito Spatafore aka the gay mobster (wisegay?), most recently seen on VH1's trainwreck-waiting-to-happen Celebrity Fat Fit Club. He was bundled up but his face did look slimmer. To VH1's discredit, on his website he credits his 140lb weight loss to Stacker II XPLC pills. His site not only has plugs for Stacker II, Joe's own "A Sauce To Die For" tomato sauces, and Joe's culinary crime novel "A Meal To Die For", but he also puts his email address right on the site. The site does not mention that he endorses an energy drink (what?!). On to the pics:They were filming in the southwest corner of the skating rink by the Sea Grill.Here's Joe with the actress in the scene (who is that?), standing behind the wall at the rink.Zoomed in.The second scene in the Channel Gardens filmed later. I didn't stay for too long but it looked like in the scene he was with a young girl-maybe 7, posing for a picture in front of the rink. Both scenes appeared to be single camera.You know it's an expensive production when the crew is drinking Pellegrino. Unfortunately there were no Tony Soprano/James Galdofini sightings today and no hope for tomorrow since the shoot was only one day, per the no parking signs posted.

More on Brasserie Ruhlmann

Brasserie Ruhlmann is supposed to be serving dinner starting this week, so here's some updates. Andrea Strong in an article on Bloomberg about the restaurant writes:

Brasserie Ruhlmann captures the glamour and joie de vivre of Paris's Bourse neighborhood in the late 1920s. Perhaps it will do for Rockefeller Center what Balthazar did for Soho.

What? Rockefeller Center could not be any more different that Soho on so many different levels. Not really sure where she's going with that. Besides inane speculation, she does have some good information on the menu:

The Times has a related piece on Jean Denoyer, creater/co-owner of the restaurant, detailing his love of the brasserie's namesake Ãmile-Jacques Ruhlmann furniture pieces but does not give a single shred of information about the restaurant. Perhaps in an attempt to truly get that Paris in the late 1920's feel, the restaurant does NOT have a website- brasserieruhlmann.com is still non-functional.

Here's a few pics from late last week- not sure if that's a waiter or busboy: They've added curtains to the windows and a sign on the door. The art deco style font on the original sign on the handle is much classier (and more informative). The tables were all set but they were not open for customers yet. My previous posts on Brasserie Ruhlmann: #1, #2category: food_ nyc_

Sunday, January 29, 2006

Fries with that, brah?

Inside my normal plastic bag with food from the diner was another bag. It was made of paper with an ad printed all over it celebrating the year of the dog. That's right- 2006 is going to be the year of Dog the Bounty Hunter, brah. Dog is the type of person upon whom reality show TV is perfectly made for (there's some serious grammar issues with that sentence, I'm sure). He looks like Randy Macho Man Savage, hunts criminals like he's Chuck Norris, is married to a woman who looks like an overweight Lita Ford, wears Oakley Thump sunglasses with built in MP3 player earpieces, and talks like he was just pulled out of dat der jungle in Hawaii, brah. Had I known that the self proclaimed "world famous bounter hunter, media personality, and speaker" was going to be on my bag, I would not have gotten ICE in my drink. Ice kills, brah.

Saturday, January 28, 2006

NYPD activity on Upper East Side

I decided to walk home from work yesterday. As I walked up 3rd Ave, I could see some police activity ahead at 86th street but didn't think anything of it. I cut down 84th street and as I got to the middle of the block, a box truck got stuck behind a doubleparked car and started to honk. About 15 seconds later, I hear someone over my headphones yelling "hey Joe, hey Joe" and getting louder quickly. I turned around there's a bike cop barreling down the sidewalk towards me at like 35mph- he's only about 10 feet away and saying "watch out". There was not enough time to react and he nearly knocked me over as he passed, his handlebars were easily within 6 inches of me.

Then when I got towards the corner, I hear a siren coming down the street from behind me and an undercover car comes flying down the street, skidding around the corner Blues Brothers style, heading south on 2nd Ave. I look up towards 86th and see more police lights up there. Obviously something is going on. Heading up to 86th and 2nd I see a police van blocking traffic on 2nd:There didn't appear to be an accident or anything and the cop was letting cars go around him slowly. I was confused. When I got to 1st avenue, I saw the same thing blocking traffic heading uptown:

Now I was completely baffled. Today it's all explained, sort of. The Daily News reports that a cop died near 3rd Ave after giving chase to some burglary suspects. That makes sense with the bike cop and undercover car, but why were they blocking off traffic on 2nd & 1st? Maybe to clear a path down 86th? And how come bike cops don't have horns or bells?

Friday, January 27, 2006

Sopranos filming in Rockefeller Center

The Sopranos will be filming on Monday in Rockefeller Center. Can't wait till March for the new episodes. It's been so long, I can barely remember what happened last. AJ's probably in his mid 30's by now.file under: tv_ nyc_

Maple syrup in the air

I thought I smelled something strange the other day after work. Initially I thought someone walking in front of me was smoking pot but then I turned a corner with nobody in front of me and smelled it again. Then the smell dissappeared before I could get a real good whiff to determine what it was. Now Gothamist is confirming that it was the infamous mystery maple syrup smell again. I'm not sure if I should be relieved or worried.

Eating at Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill

This week is restaurant week in NYC and that means $35 three course meals at lots of great restaurants that would normally cost you way more. Tonight Cnote took me to Mesa Grill. which is owned by FoodTV megachef Bobby Flay. The restaurant is in a tall space with a bar dominating most of one side and a lofted seating area opposite it. We sat by the windows in front of the bar. We both started with margaritas, frozen regular for me and grapefruit for Cnote. The grapefruit one was interestingly sweet, the regular was very bland. The restaurant week menu gave us a choice of 3 appetizers, 3 main courses and 2 desserts.

A basked of three types of really really good bread was put on our table (blue corn, sourdough, and a spicy-type bread). For my appetizer I went the Crispy Black Bean Risotto Cake (with BBQ Pulled Pork, Tomatillo Sauce + Queso Fresco). This was amazing- the best thing served the whole meal. It was a tiny fist-sized round crusted risotto at it's base topped with the bean/pork mixture with cheese sprinkled on top. The pork had an incredible smoky flavor to it. Cnote got the Roasted Cauliflower-Green Chile Soup (with Goat Cheese + Blue Corn Taquito). I took a sip and thought it was good even though I don't like cauliflower.

We patiently waited in the noisy room for our main course. I got the Sixteen Spice Chicken (with a Mango-Habanero Sauce & Buttermilk-Chive Mashed Potatoes). The chicken was good but not great. They cooked it well- juicy despite the generous dry rub on it but it was lacking in flavor throughout the entire piece. It was served over spinach with the mango-habanero sauce artfully splattered on the huge plate. The chicken and sauce had a spiciness to them but they were not hot. The mashed potatoes were excellent; extremely buttery smooth. Cnote had the Ancho Chile-Honey Glazed Salmon (with a Spicy Black Bean Sauce + Roasted Jalapeno Crema). I had a few bites and it was good- especially the black beans.

For dessert we both ordered the Chocolate Coconut Bread Pudding (with Passion fruit Syrup). The coconut gave it a great burst of freshness but overall I was not a huge fan of this dessert. Overall the meal was good but I think the lack of choices on the restaurant week menu caused some food choice compromises and inhibited our full enjoyment of this restaurant.

Thursday, January 26, 2006

Project Runway walks off with another good one

Yesterday's episode of Project Runway was awesome. This show is just getting better each week. The show started off with Zulema wanting to switch models and demanding a walk-off to decide. Scandalous! I usually don't care about the model competition since it's more luck & randomness than model skills but that blonde girl just can't walk- wow. Her walk can only be compared to a wounded ostrich.

The challenge was "inspiration" and the designers were set loose into the streets of NY with digital cameras to shoot their inspiration for the dresses. Conceptually this was my favorite challenge yet. Once again Santino knew exactly what to do right away, while some of the others seemed to wander aimlessly. Santino would kick ass in a speed-designing competition (yes-PR could technically be called a speed-design competion, but I'm envisioning something quick-like a 2 hour contest). Unfortunately Santino did not win but as I instructed him after the last episode, he realized that he needs to tone it down a little bit or he'll get cut.

I was surprised that the winning dress was in the Rockefeller Center Banana Republic window so quickly after the show. Daniel V won this week:It's interesting how rough and unfinished the bottom is. The previous winning dresses on display were almost all like this too.Check the official Project Runway site for a better representation of the color and how it looks on a real person.They really should put a mirror up, so you can see the back too.Despite winning last week with a beautiful design, Zulema got the auf wiedersehen this week. Fans- you absolutely must check out the ultracomprehensive Blogging Project Runway for about 525,600 things I missed about the show.

In weird personal convergence for me- (unfairly) ousted former contestant Diane Eng's blog entry for November 10 mentions the same Phish/fish music dress I wrote about.file under: tv_

Jared Leto rocks out

MTV.Com wrote, "Jared Leto is not the first actor to launch a career in rock and roll, but somehow he's managed to be the only one audiences don't laugh off the stage…only Leto's band, 30 Seconds to Mars, has earned itself some bona fide rock cred over the course of its brief career." The Washington Post agrees, "Hard-driving guitar riffs and powerful vocals carry this head banging outfit all the way to the rock-race finish line."

Leto is a singer/guitarist in the band. The Dallas Morning News proclaims,

"His voice, a strident and boyish alto, never wavered despite the histrionics, and his showmanship won over even skeptical post-teens....30 Seconds To Mars is a refreshing exception,"

First we had Kevin Bacon's Bacon Brothers, then Keanu Reaves' Dogstar, then Russell Crowe's 30 Odd Foot of Grunts, and now this! I think my head just exploded. They're playing New York on March 24th at the Avalon. I'll be home that day watching My So Called Life on DVD while gourging on pickles and ice cream Walter Hudson style but you should go check out Jared Leto and his strident boyish alto.

The Best Pumpkin Ale

Lately it's been feeling like fall here in New York with the temperatures soaring into the 50's. That makes it the perfect time to pick up my favorite fall beer- Smuttynose Pumkin Ale (being onsale at FreshDirect helps too). This beer has just the right amount of pumpkin flavor, spices and bitterness. It's spices make it taste more pumpkin pie than pumpkin. It goes down very smooth for an ale and it's actually orange tinted.Note the butternut squash background. That's major league advanced photography right there kids. I went all Ansel A on that motherf*#ker. Booya.

Wednesday, January 25, 2006

Jamband name generator

So you're thinking of starting a jamband and all the good names are taken? Want to be the next String Cheese Incident, Widespread Panic, Ominous Seapods, Monkeys on Ecstasy, Sound Tribe Sector 9, Umphrey's McGee, Phish, Donna the Buffalo, Pork Tornado, Disco Biscuits or Yonder Mountain String Band? It all starts with a name and the jamband name generator is here to get you started. Now all you need is some talent.

Yelling at Project Runway

Oh yeah- it's Wednesday, only a few more hours until the new Project Runway episode. Kudos to Bravo for another well produced, fascinating season. The show is great- I laugh, I mock, I debate choices, I make predictions, I yell at the screen. The true test of any reality show is the yelling at the screen test: the crazier the characters are, the more yelling at their absurdity there is and the better the show is. Last weeks show was pretty ridiculous (in a good way) with all the contestants wearing tight figure skating costumes and then designing one for an Olympian.

Santino is my clear favorite. His designs, while a bit over the top sometimes, are pretty spot on usually. It will take both talent and personality to win- someone who can design to the clients specifications yet still have their own style and can then sell it verbally to the client. Others may have the design chops but I believe only Santino has the combination. He just needs to tone it down a little bit and he'll win it all. Then again, Austin Scarlett lost last year so what do I know?

Every week the winning designs are put in the window near the Rock Center Banana Republic. Here's last week's winning design (figure skating outfit challenge)Note to Banana Republic window dresser- don't put the mannequin's hands in front of the design!It's interesting how ornate the piping is (is that what it's called-piping?). On TV it looks like a pattern, but in person it's clearly handmade freestyle.Also check out the interesting (even for non-fans of the show) blog by Bravo programming exec Andy. Lots of celeb encounters there. And go Santino!

Love Monkey- it's a keeper

Last week I wrote that although I liked the new CBS show Love Monkey, I needed one more episode to see if it's a keeper. Tonight it passed the litmus test. Awkward pop culture namedropping- check (myspace). Unrealistic guy problem involving hot chick- check. Obligatory 1980's reference-check (we built this city). Sorta hip cameos- check (Ben Folds). Humorous Coitus Interruptus- checkus. The Priestly Factor was about 8.2 on the Walsh Scale for this episode. Slightly predictable and sappy but overall it was good stuff. NYC outdoor shots were great again. This has been added to my permarecord list on the DVR.

Tuesday, January 24, 2006

Mike Gordon plays with the fans

If you've been following the saga of the Phish bassist and solo recording mega-star Mike Gordon Hotline on my blog here, or here, or here, or maybe here and also here; you know that last we left off, Mike was meeting up with fans for an open mic night in Boston. His latest HL message thanks the fans for coming out to the show last night and tells about his own addiction to the hotline. He mentions playing chess against some people from the OhKeePah website (url?) but he can't for 9 weeks. Hmmm.... what's up with the 9 weeks? Looking at the calendar, 9 weeks from now is Jam in the Dam which happens to feature The Duo. Let the rumors begin!

So, who were the lucky fans who not only got to hang with Mike and Jamie Masefield at the open mic show, but to get onstage and play with them? Why they're from PT and they've got the pics to prove it! Click on PT for their full story. I'm really glad to see Mike connecting with the fans. music_

Mike Gordon hotline insanity

The Mike Gordon obsession continues. Gordo is a busy man these days. Without his duties as bassist & vocalist in Phish, he has plenty of time to do all those things he always wanted to. Like leaving a message on his hotline yesterday afternoon asking for his fans to leave a random word for him. Or yesterday evening's message about him going out with Jazz Mandolin Project's Jamie Masefield in Boston. Or yesterday's late nightmessage with the results of the words the fans left and a promise of a new song using those words and some vodka talk. Or tonight, Mike encourages fans to join him at the Middle East bar- upstairs in the current message. This is getting difficult to keep up with. Will the insanity never end? What exactly is he doing with Jamie Masefield? Just hanging? Will rumors of a JMP tour with Mike surface?

Update...someone on PT actually went to the bar and hung out with Mike:

i just chilled with mike at the middle east (downstairs). it was pretty fun. he was with jamie masefield and a couple of girls.

i introduced myself and, of course, thanked mike for everything. i told him we know a couple of the same people (a film editor in NYC who he's known since high school and joe russo, who i took some drum lessons with back in the wetlands days). when i told him i knew joe, he goes "let's call him."

i bought them a round of drinks and had a great conversation with jamie masefield about neil young, bob weir (we both did our best bob impressions), tolstoy, shelley and this new project he's working on (which sounds dope).

Monday, January 23, 2006

Slice- the perfect food?

After hearing the buzz about a new pizza place called Slice, The Perfect Food on the pizza blog called Slice and food blog $20 a day, we decided we had to check it out. Healthy pizza? We were skeptical but anxious to try. The restaurant occupied a small slice of real estate on 2nd Avenue in the 70's.We checked out the menu. Slice also offers a make-your-own style menu where you can mix and match styles & toppings but we decided to stick with their premade selections. They use organic and healthier ingredients. I went with the "Expert" Chicken and CNote got the "Skilled" Eggplant.We noticed the TEANY teas offered. The decor was minimalist, the lights were suspended bulbs with reflective bottoms- allowing for a cool shot of the whole place. Note the creepy manequin.The place is small, seats only about 10. It was a little surreal when I was actually asked if I wanted cheese on the slice. Sorry about the blurriness.After a short wait, our pizza came out. They served it on square white plates. It was cut into 4 in a diamond shaped pattern. Fresh basil was sprinkled on top after it came out of the oven. The crust was very thin and crunchy. It was lightly charred with an almost cracker-like snap. The sauce was excellent. The only weak point was the sesame chicken- it didnt go well. A rosemary chicken would have been preferable.

On our way in we had noticed that they were going to be on the food channel.Sure enough, when we got home it was on. This is the owner. She put in $5,000 of her own money, got a loan for $80,000 and borrowed the remaining $115,000 from friends in exchange for equity in the business. What kind of friends have $115,000? How about Moby? The show also mentioned that her rent is $6000/month. Wow.Overall Slice showed good promise, despite the chicken. The crust really makes the pizza. Not a true purist's pizza but something different and good.file under: food_

Funny bus driver today

Someone's been drinking the MTA kool-aid because the overly enthusiastic bus driver on the crosstown this morning, in addition to goodmorning'ing and thanking everyone as they swiped their metrocards, gave us this gem over the PA, "Be sure to take all your belongings, including your children. I'm not kidding about the children." Of course it wasn't nearly as funny by the next stop when she repeated it again.category: nyc_

Sunday, January 22, 2006

Andy Samberg breaks out

On a mediocre season (again) of Saturday Night Live there is a standout of late. His name is Andy Samberg. The hysterical Chronic of Narnia skit is going to be the equivalent of the Chris Farley's Chippendales skit with Patrick Swayze- it's going to put him on the SNL map for good and save the show. Check out his old comedy group The Lonely Island- lots of funny videos on their website. This week's SNL had another good digital short with Andy and he had a funny one with heads of lettuce earlier in the season. His smart, pop culturally aware style of comedy is going to be huge. The show really needs to change directions towards this intelligent humor because lately it's been a series of one-joke skits taken way too far. Things that are funny but get old quickly. This fresh blood is needed. Hopefully Andy's crazy delicious comedy will revive the show.file as: tv_

Brasserie Ruhlmann update

As promised in my earlier post, here are some more pictures of the newly opened Brasserie Ruhlmann in Rockefeller Center. I actually spotted several businessman type people eating breakfast there Friday.

it looks like this might be the main entrance, was hard to tell:It's interesting that the the west facing windows are completely blacked out. Perhaps this is temporary? Maybe until the Anthropologie store across the plaza opens in the spring?The bar area was in a bit of disarray.update 1/30- more info & pics herefile under: nyc_ food_

Saturday, January 21, 2006

Best shows I saw in 2005- with pictures.

Now that enough time has passed to digest since the last shows of 2005, it's time to pick the best. My top 5 in no particular order:The Duo at Southpaw in Park Slope, Brooklyn (sometime in winter). Joe Russo is a monster on drums. I saw a lot of the Duo this year but this is my favorite due to the small venue, chill crowd, and special guests (Eric Krasno!). The Duo has quickly become one of my favorites. The picture below is actually from Camp Bisco over the summer.Disco Biscuits-New Years Eve with the new drummer. Best of the 10 or so I saw this year. High energy, sick new lighting rig and M.E.M.P.H.I.S. to bring in the new year. Allen- it's good to have you in the band. Future is promising for tDB.moe. Tsunami Benefit w/Trey Anastasio, John Medeski, Sam Bush (who I also saw guest with Yonder Mtn String Band in the fall at Irving). Big big Plane Crash with Medeski. Trey played all of set 2 including his own mini-acoustic set in the middle. Peaches->After Midnight for the encore was really hot. And all for a good cause.Brother Past on the big boat on June 3rd. They seemed a bit more techno than Radiohead this show. Lots of dancing and a great view as the boat went up and down the Hudson. Crowds on the boats are always fun because you don't get as many casual fans coming since you can't just leave in the middle if you don't like it. No tix and no pix for this one.

Mike Gordon/Leo Kottke-Irving plaza. Short but sweet show. Leo on acoustic guitar and Mike on electric bass. They complimented each other nicely. The songs were quirky lyrically yet bluesy and rootsy. Slow version of Twist was awesome.Honorable mentions:Antibalas & Soulive on June 24 in Prospect Park, Brooklyn for free (well-$3 donation but close enough)! Great venue for these local bands. Antibalas really brings the spirit of Fela alive. Love the horns.

U2 at MSG . We had seen their show in the spring at Continental Arena (one of the worst arenas for a concert anywhere) so we knew pretty much what to expect but the energy was way higher- even approaching electrifying for some songs. During Sunday Bloody Sunday the floor was bouncing as much I've ever felt it- and I've probably seen 20 shows there including 3 NYE shows. Cool lights too- pic is from the Continental show though:Lou Reed @ Crobar. Weird place for a concert- big club in Chelsea. Despite the fact that he didn't play any Velvet Underground material, I thought it was a really good show. Lou is an excellent guitarist and a fantastic storyteller. Very entertaining.Phil Lesh and Friends in Newark Chris Robinson on vocals. Great sounding theater. Lots of wood everywhere. Phil put on a really good show and Chris Robinson is a perfect fit on vocals, even if he is a bit shaky with the lyrics at times. Lots of fun to hear all the Dead tunes.Tibet House Benefit- Carnegie Hall. This was my second Tibet House benefit and it was great again. Lots of diverse talent onstage. Highlights included: Lou Reed doing Perfect Day. Ray Davie's entire set-he is a great performer, very energetic. Nellie McKay is so quirky weird but good on piano and she has a great voice- Tori Amos meets Mike Gordon. Trey debuted Love is Freedom which was kind of weak and he played Flock of Words with Nellie McKay which was awesome. The Phillip Glass songs were pretty eerie too.L-R in front row in the pic is: Patti Smith & Chocolate Genius, Ray Davies & Lou Reed, Trey Anastasio & Nellie McKay. Phillip Glass is playing piano. Later Trey tries to sneak in on the Lou Reed/Ray Davies microphone and then he puts his arm around a bewildered Tibetan Monk. Go Trey.Rebirth Brass Band- Central Park- free! Wow. Love the New Orleans funk. Especially outdoors, in the park, free, with temperatures and humidity making it feel like NO. Had tons of fun at this one. Rebirth parades through the crowd to start and gets EVERYONE moving. Nice diverse crowd too.MMW Halloween- Hammerstein. They had some interesting theatrics going on with people suspended by and swinging on ropes. MMW was funky and not too spacey. They can be sort of hit-or-miss and this was a hit.Dishonorable mentions:Allman Bros@ Jones Beach. Way too much slide guitar, Warren Haynes wankfest, totally boring after a while. However, it was only $15 and moe. opened, so bad show but good value.Bob Dylan at The Beacon. He did not player guitar once the whole show. The best thing about this show was Merle Haggard opening. Nice Mama Tried. This was my second and last time seeing Dylan. I'll keep further criticism to myself because he's a legend and one of the best songwriters ever but I'm done with him live. That's him in the middle of the picture with the hat on playing keys.Trey Anastasio @ Hammerstein (spring x2). Almost an embarrassment. All that money to see him play so many covers. He did redeem himself with an above average show in Philly and an even better one at Roseland in the fall. Well designed tickets too. The picture below is actually from the Cincy show, which was ok.String CheeseIncident@ Prospect Park- They played as part of the Big Summer Classic. It was pretty bad- they need to go back to their bluegrass roots because the sound they have now is just generic. Although to Michael Kang's credit he was pretty good on electric guitar with the band that opened for Brothers Past at Bowery Ballroom in Nov. The rest of the festival was pretty good, Michael Franti is awesome, Umphrey's was decent good despite some sound problems . Note the ticket stub is the wrong venue- they changed it up after they issued tickets due to slow sales. Prospect Park is a lot better (and closer).

Finally, my favorite ticket stub of the year is (and probably venue of the year):What did you think was the best of '05? Leave a comment.category: music_